Learn From Others’ “Mythtakes,” Don’t Microwave Your Phone

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Airport X-ray machines won’t wipe the memory on a phone or laptop. Macs can get viruses. And, for the love of Steve Jobs, do not try charging your cell phone in the microwave.

HighSpeedInternet.com (HSI) has debunked some of the most popular tech myths, including the belief that charging a smartphone overnight can ruin the battery.

(This, according to HSI’s John Dilley, is more expired than untrue: “Years ago, overcharging cell phone batteries could cause them to overheat or wear down their life cycle,” he explained, adding that “smartphones and batteries have advanced significantly since then.”)

A survey of people across the US highlights just how easily we can be duped when it comes to our precious devices.

Popular tech myths Americans still believe in 2019 (via HighSpeedInternet.com)

“Keeping up with all the ins and outs of technology in this rapidly changing world can be difficult,” Dilley wrote in a blog post. “It’s completely understandable (and unavoidable) for a bit of false information to slip into the conversation here and there.

“But when misinformation becomes myth,” he continued, “it can persist in the culture for years—long after it’s been debunked.”

Fifty-two percent of participants, for instance, are convinced that smartphone manufacturers deliberately slow down existing handsets when a new model is released.

Not to burst your bubble, but there is no need to shut down a computer every night to ensure it runs more efficiently. And yes, deleted files can be recovered, even after you empty the recycling bin.

Most Googled tech questions from coast to coast (via HighSpeedInternet.com)

Perhaps more worrying, though, than the 86 percent of people who believe smartphone cameras with more megapixels capture better pictures, are the folks in California thinking about charging their phones in the microwave.

(A) It won’t work, and B) it may cause the device to explode. Which is basically the opposite of what you want.)

Georgians, meanwhile, are Googling hacked baby monitors—a completely bona fide concern, especially for those using smart monitors that connect to the Web.

“Things change so quickly that knowing what’s true in the tech world requires more vigilance and attention than most people have time for,” Dilley said, advising the tech-anxiety-riddled to “keep checking back” for the latest in “mythtakes.”